Benjamin J. Buck
Editor

"We regret to inform you, that we had to lock your U.S. Bank Online Access because we have reasons to believe that your account may have been compromised by outside partiesÉ..To reactivate your account, click on the link below and confirm your identity by completing the secure form that will appear."

This e-mail, taken directly from doshelp.com, may look legitimate to NIACC students, but according to Matt Ritter, vice president of Clear Lake Bank and Trust in Clear Lake, IA, a red flag should go up in anyone's financial textbook.

"The number one thing is no bank that is legitimate will ever ask for personal information such as account numbers, passwords or social security numbers through e-mail," Ritter said. "No legitimate bank will do that."

And according to Ritter, about 40% of Clear Lake Bank and Trust customers utilize the free online banking Web site, which could lead to some problems down the road.

"The target has always been at the larger banks," Ritter said about the market internet criminals feast on. "But, in the future, the smaller communities and the smaller banks are going to start dealing with the problem because the customers don't think it can happen to them."

According to a report from the Iowa Attorney General's office in October of 2005, the problem of "phishing" (pronounced like fishing) is "clicking on the link that sends you to a phony Web site - a Web site that looks remarkably like the real thing but is completely fabricated by the con-artists. Then the Ôspoof' Web page asks you to enter and send your private data -- probably to overseas crooks."

This technique of identity thieves, has been used to imitate the Red Cross, AOL, eBay, PayPal, CitiBank and a handful of other organizations.

Jim Morrow, president of Wells Fargo Bank in Mason City, also strongly stressed that banks will never ask for personal information through e-mail.

"You just have to automatically assume it's a fraudulent e-mail," Morrow said.

Dr. Michael Morrison, president of NIACC, said that he wants students to be educated on financial matters like this so they are not victims of identity theft.

"Most of our students are sophisticated enough so they won't become victims," Morrison said. "But if these criminals get one person out of a million hits, then that's all they need."

Mike Sogard, the market president of U.S. Bank in Mason City, said that customers need to be careful when deciding what e-mail is legitimate and what is not. "You just have to use common sense and be vigilant," Sogard said. "If you are wary of the e-mail and it makes you uneasy, call the bank directly to confirm the e-mail."

Being a customer of the bank or business the e-mail comes from isn't the number one requirement for being a victim of identity theft, according to Ritter.

"I got an e-mail from CitiBank that said my account had been locked out and I needed to confirm my identity to get back in to the account," Ritter said. "I don't even bank with CitiBank."

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in Washington, D.C. released a Consumer Alert that suggests tips on how to avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam.

Some include using anti-virus software and a firewall, not e-mailing personal or financial information, reviewing credit card statements and bank account statements as soon as they are receieved, and information on contacting the FTC about possible phishing scams.

As consumers may be wary of banking online because of possible identity theft, Morrow said he and his bank strongly encourage their customers to bank online.

"We recommend people bank online," Morrow said. "It lets them monitor and stay on top of their account. If a problem is caught early the damage can be minor. It's when people don't pay attention is when the problems arise."

Jennifer Thomas
Staff Reporter

While some Iowans hate the clichŽ that everyone here is a farmer, some embrace it, including NIACC agriculture student Quinn Johnson.

Born on a farm, his family raises corn, soybeans and hogs.

"I've always wanted to be a farmer," Johnson said. Johnson said he plans on eventually going into the family business.

He enrolled in NIACC's Agriculture Department, where students take classes like soil science and animal science.

Johnson said half of the class time is spent in lectures, but the other half is hands-on out in the lab.

During the labs, students actually work with the crops and animals.

"You don't have to be a farmer to take classes," Johnson said.

A lot of people take them not knowing what to expect and then end up getting interested in the ag field, he said.

"We're the silent working department of NIACC," Johnson said.

Just because they are silent doesn't mean they're not hard working.

Johnson said he hates the common misconception that farmers only work three months of the year.

He calls it a very time consuming profession that requires constant upkeep.

"Farming is not just about agriculture, farmers need a wide range of knowledge," Johnson said.

After NIACC, Johnson said he plans to work at the North Iowa Co-op for awhile to raise some money so he can buy some ground of his own.

Then, Johnson will do what he loves, which is farm.

North Iowans received a jump start on their manufacturing careers through "Career Link," a manufacturing training program offered by NIACC in response to requests from north Iowa companies.

Graduates of the August and October classes include; Scott Avery of Meservey, Bradley Jones of Floyd, David Willging of Plymouth, Corey Coen of Ventura, Dave Kronemann and Geoffrey Zill of Crystal Lake, Teresa Mannetter of Charles City, Mark Mowrey and Olivia Snow of Clear Lake, Duane Fritts, Denise Ward, Matthew Hilbert, Ila Livingston, Leanne Rand, and Jonathan Whalen of Mason City.

The 56-hour, four-week class helps prepare individuals for employment with area manufacturers and includes training in math, measurements, quality, problem solving, teamwork, behaviors in the workplace, communications, and a 10-hour OSHA certification.

Career Link partners include Advanced Component Technologies, Inc. of Northwood; Eaton Corporation of Belmond; Fleetguard of Lake Mills; Hampton Hydraulics of Hampton; Iowa Mold Tooling of Garner; Kiefer Built, Inc. of Kanawha; Kraft Foods of Mason City; Larson Manufacturing of Clear Lake; Metalcraft, Inc. of Mason City; Suntron Iowa of Garner; and Winnebago Industries of Forest City.

Feedback from the pilot program, which ran Monday and Thursday evenings during August and October, has been positive.

"I've never been in the manufacturing environment before, and this class gives you a very good review of what is expected," David Willging said.

Classmate Denise Ward also appreciated the interviewing and resumŽ writing tips.

Brad Jones said the OSHA training was especially beneficial.

"This program got our names into the business marketplace," Jones said. "And employers are looking for people who are dedicated and willing to take this course."

Career Link will be offered again January 30 Ð February 23 and April 3 - 27.

The cost is $25. For more information, call (641) 422-4170 or (888) GO-NIACC, ext. 4170.

Josh Dockum
Staff Reporter

The semester is winding down and every class is looking to squeeze in one big project or test.

The Introduction to Entrepreneurship class is no exception.

Each member in the Intro to Entrepreneurship class will be presenting business plans outlining businesses they're interested in starting in the future.

The 12 members of the class are allotted ten minutes for their presentation, five minutes for questions. The evaluators are particularly strict about the allotted time.

All students have to attend each business plan presentation. The students are not allowed to ask questions during the presentation period because questions are left to the evaluators.

The three evaluators who grade each presentation include Tim Putnam, associate director of the John Pappajohn Business and Entrepreneurial Center, Marilyn Hoffman, executive director of Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation and Richard Peterson, director of North Iowa Small Business Development Center.

"The business plan helps get an idea, and it helps bring these ideas to life," Putnam said.

"It's a step-by-step process that helps an entrepreneur's dreams become reality."

Instructors Bob Johnson and Erica Berte have also allowed the student presenters the opportunity to utilize various presentation tools, such as computer projection systems, overhead projectors or a flip chart. These tools help create an atmosphere more like that of a real-life business presentation.

They have also encouraged each presenter to bring at least one guest, and it can be anyone of the presenter's choice.

The presenters and businesses they plan to pitch include Nancy Germundson - Fancicakes, Jeremy Lerner - Electronic Extremes, Zach Merfeld - Audio World, Seth Holstad - Holstad Plumbing, Joe Jacobsen - JJ's Kennels, Tanner Hansen - Hansen's Bait and Tackle, Ben McGuire - Ben McGuire Construction, Matt Mostrom - Golf World, Will Blanchard - Blanchard Industrial Coatings, Tim Sather - Winona Yacht Club, Raquel Rasmussen - Groomingdales, and Daniel Anderson - Ocean's Oasis.